How Much Will the 2025 Kia K4 Cost? Full Prices On the Compact Forte Replacement
Kia’s entry-level K4 looks to hang onto its predecessor's pricing strategy despite its new name and look.
While the 2024 model year rounds out a multi-decade run for Kia's Forte compact sedan (and at-times hatchback), its death is more of a passing of the torch. It is being effectively replaced by the new K4, which also covers some of the same bases as the also-discontinued, one-size-down Kia Rio. This makes a low price point a priority for the new K4, which we hope carries over at least some of the Forte's cheap thrills (on certain models, at least) while staying affordable.
0:00 / 0:00
The good news for Kia fans is that the expressively styled new 2025 K4 isn’t much more expensive than the outgoing 2024 Forte. The bad news is that the K4 will cast a wider net for buyers—meaning it will not offer niche, enthusiast-friendly versions such as the old GT-Line with a six-speed manual transmission. Instead, every K4 gets Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT, essentially a continuously variable automatic transmission by another name), with the exception of the sporty-adjacent K4 GT-Line Turbo model, which gets a traditional eight-speed automatic. Kia will also not offer a hybrid or all-electric version of the K4, at least for now. They also all will be four-doors at launch.
Wait, Where Is the Hatch?
While the K4 sedan debuted alongside the hatchback version pictured in yellow above, the cargo-friendly bodystyle's pricing and details haven’t been announced yet. We’ll continue to wait and see if the K4 hatch will appear in 2024 or if we’ll all be waiting for it in 2025.
GT-Line Changes
There are regular K4s—LX, LXS, and EX—and then there are the spicier-looking, higher-content GT-Line models you're more likely to see in Kia ads and in our first stories on the K4 from its debut, which distance themselves from regular K4 sedans by coming with a rear multi-link and sport-tuned suspension in place of the standard K4 models' less sophisticated torsion beam rear axle. The range-topping GT-Line Turbo version will also add in its namesake with a direct-injected 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 engine, which replaces the port-injected 2.0-liter (non-turbo) I-4 that powers every other K4. This 0.4-liter-smaller engine makes 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, which is 43 hp and 63 lb-ft of torque more than you get from the 2.0 liter and enough to pushthe K4 GT-Line Turbo to 130 mph.
Miles Out of a Gallon
Fuel mileage–wise, the entry-level 2025 K4 LX is estimated to return 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined, according to Kia. Everything else with the 2.0-liter I-4 manages a slightly lower 29/39/33 mpg in the same categories, likely due to their extra equipment and larger wheels; all roughly achieve the same fuel economy as the 2024 Forte with the same engines and trim levels. While the GT-Line Turbo’s mileage hasn’t been announced, we’d expect very similar or very close numbers to the outgoing Forte GT, which netted 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined.
New Price Same as The Old Price, Too?
Comparing the 2024 Forte and the 2025 K4, no question, the K4 is more expensive. The LX runs $2,000 more than the Forte of the same trim, a gap that grows to $2,500 for the new K4 LXS and $2,700 for the K4 GT-Line. Since both versions of the Forte GT (manual and automatic transmissions) are gone and replaced by the K4 GT-Line Turbo, the latter's price premium depends on which GT you're comparing it to; therefore, the K4 GT-Line Turbo is $2,700 more than the Forte GT stick-shift and $3,400 more than the GT automatic. The 2025 K4's EX trim wasn't found on the 2024 Forte, so there is no direct comparison between the Forte and K4 here.
Still The Cheap King?
For 2025, the K4 sort of retains its cheap car title thanks to its affordable starting price of $23,145. At the other end of the lineup, a top-of-the-line GT-Line Turbo delivers a still-mild $29,245 hit to your wallet. And things do start well for the 2025 K4. The least-expensive 2024 Mazda 3 starts at $25,335, while its priciest variant starts at $36,615. Among the two top names in the compact car segment, the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic, the K4 undercuts both in their cheapest forms, though it's notably $2,200 less than the pricier Civic (whose upper trims are universally thousands more than equivalent K4s and offer hybrid power the Kia does not) while the more affordable Corolla's price is a mere $465 higher than the Kia's.
The 2025 Toyota Corolla's price premium largely holds as you move up the trim levels; while the base Corolla LE costs $465 more, the sportier XSE costs $960 less than the GT-Line Turbo, and the Corolla Hybrid XLE is actually $860 less than the top spec K4. The Kia and Toyota are so closely grouped, the choice between the two is difficult on paper. On one hand, you’re getting a known commodity over the brand-new K4 and for only $500 more. On the other hand, we've yet to drive the K4, and its styling inside and out is far more expressive.
When’s It Coming?
The 2025 Kia K4 sedan will drop at your local Kia dealer beginning September with the LX, LXS, and EX versions landin. By the time November rolls around, the K4 GT-Line will be on those lots. Finally, the GT-Line Turbo with its 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 will appear at your dealer in “early 2025,” but an exact date wasn’t mentioned by Kia.
2024 Kia K4 Pricing
Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he's had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like). Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He's best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
Read More
